Adam Campbell is determined not to be Newcastle's forgotten man as Alan Pardew attempts to re-shape his front line.

The Magpies have made striking reinforcements a priority this summer, and it has emerged that they are in a battle with Everton to snap up Arouna Kone with both clubs having triggered a release clause in the Ivorian's contract. However, 18-year-old Academy graduate Campbell is hoping for his chance.

The home-grown striker told the club's official website: "I've never dreamt of being here this quickly, so it's all happened very fast for me. But I'm loving it at the moment and hopefully I can kick on next year and really get myself into the team properly and show what I can do."

Campbell added: "I've got a little taste for it now and obviously the gaffer helped me out last season. He was very kind to me and gave me a chance. But next season I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that I get in his team regularly and get a lot more time on the pitch."

Campbell became the club's youngest European debutant when he lined up against Greek side Atromitos last season, and made three Barclays Premier League appearances before heading off on international duty with England Under-19s.

North Shields-born Campbell and most of his team-mates will be back in training by Friday with some of the club's senior internationals having been given an extended break because of commitments with their respective countries at the end of the last campaign.

Pardew will hope his squad is boosted significantly in number before hostilities begin next month with Steve Harper, Danny Simpson and James Perch having all left the club.

Kone is a genuine target, but former Wigan boss Roberto Martinez's presence at Goodison Park could give Everton the advantage in that race, while Aston Villa's £8million asking price for Bent is unlikely to prompt owner Mike Ashley to get out his chequebook just yet.

New director of football Joe Kinnear has drawn up a plan of attack after consulting Pardew and chief scout Graham Carr, and it remains to be seen how effective he is in implementing that.

Newcastle have tied up the futures of a series of young players with goalkeepers Jak Alnwick and Jonathan Mitchell, defender Paul Dummett, midfielders Conor Newton and Michael Richardson and striker Alex Gilliead having signed new contracts. In addition, they have announced the capture of 16-year-old French midfielder Olivier Kemen from Metz.